Recro and BioCorRx Expand Development and Manufacturing Relationship to Support BICX104, an Implantable Naltrexone Pellet for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder

Recro Pharma, Inc. a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) dedicated to solving complex formulation and manufacturing challenges in small molecule therapeutic development, and BioCorRx, Inc. a developer and provider of advanced solutions in the treatment of substance use disorders, today announced the expansion of the companies’ ongoing relationship with the signing of a new development and manufacturing agreement. Under terms of the new agreement, Recro will provide analytical validation services and cGMP manufacturing of registrational batches of BICX104 to support BioCorRx’s potential filing of a New Drug Application (NDA) for BICX104 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This new agreement expands the previously signed Master Services Agreement (MSA) between BioCorRx and IriSys LLC (“IriSys”), the San Diego-based CDMO that was recently acquired by Recro. Under the initial MSA signed in 2019, IriSys provided development and manufacturing services in support of BICX102, the preclinical precursor to BICX104. Those efforts will now transition to support BICX104 as it advances toward first-in-human clinical trials. All activities covered under this new agreement will be conducted at Recro’s San Diego facility.

BICX104 is a biodegradable, long-acting subcutaneous pellet of naltrexone for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) being developed under BioCorRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., BioCorRx’s controlled R&D subsidiary. BioCorRx has received clearance from the FDA to proceed to human trials for BICX104 and expects to initiate the first-in-human clinical trial of the drug candidate as soon as scheduling permits. The project has been funded in large part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), under award number UG3DA047925 and is a result of BioCorRx’s application under RFA DA-19-002, Development of Medications to Prevent and Treat Opioid Use Disorders and Overdose (UG3/UH3) (Clinical Trial Optional).

“The legacy IriSys team, now Recro, has had a valued and productive relationship with BioCorRx in support of the company’s implantable naltrexone program since 2019 and we are pleased to expand the scope of the collaboration as BioCorRx prepares to initiate the first-in-human clinical trial of BICX104,” said David Enloe, chief executive officer of Recro. “This new agreement is a testament to the talented team of professionals that was built at IriSys and offers an immediate demonstration of the impact that our recent acquisition of IriSys will have on Recro’s ongoing growth strategy. We look forward to bringing the strength and experience of the entire Recro organization to the BioCorRx relationship. It is a privilege to continue to support the important work that BioCorRx is conducting in an effort to offer a key therapeutic option in the battle against opioid use disorder.”

“The exceptional service and support provided through our ongoing CDMO relationship have been critical to BioCorRx’s successful advancement of our implantable naltrexone program. Recro’s recent acquisition of IriSys further bolsters our confidence in our CDMO partnership as we move BICX104 into the clinical stage and a step closer to market for patients battling opioid use disorder, as well as alcohol use disorder (AUD),” said Brady Granier, president and director of BioCorRx, Inc., and chief executive officer of BioCorRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.